Health

While volunteering this past weekend with WZZM13 and our “Make a Difference Day” event on the GVSU campus in Allendale, I was surprised to realize how little I really knew about bone marrow transplants. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same.

The main thing I learned was that 75% of the time, if you needed a bone marrow transplant, your immediate family would not qualify, meaning they would not be a match. That is when you turn to a place such as Michigan Blood. They are also connected to the National Registry.

During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross reminds eligible blood donors that it doesn’t take a cape or super powers to be a hero. By donating blood, donors can become a hero for patients in need.

Red Cross Month is dedicated to the everyday heroes who support the Red Cross mission by giving blood, volunteering their time, learning lifesaving skills or making a financial contribution.

The need for blood is constant. The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes in communities across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors with all blood types are needed, particularly those with types O negative, A negative and B negative.

To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Just recently, while looking for something in my freezer, I realized it was time to really go through everything to make certain I was not losing food because of freezer burn. Winter is the perfect time to clean freezers. I decided to eat from my freezer for a week and see what happened.

I found good things that I had labeled and forgotten about. When the week was over, I had a much more organized freezer and at the same time, saved myself a trip or two to the store.

LANSING, Mich. – Making fruits and vegetables more readily available, cancer screenings by mail, health coaches and exercise programs are just several of the local initiatives getting funding from the Michigan Department of Community Health.

The MDCH recently announced 44 projects are getting approximately $1.34 million, including a dozen projects in West Michigan. The grants include:

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division are sharing their top tips to stay safe in this extreme cold.

"As we saw last winter, these arctic blasts can create hazardous situations," said Capt. Chris A. Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. "Citizens are encouraged to monitor local weather reports and follow the appropriate steps to stay safe during these extremely cold and potentially life-threatening temperatures."

Exposure to these subzero temperatures could potentially cause frostbite and hypothermia, as well as create hazardous driving conditions.

The community is invited to 5th/3rd Ballpark located at 4500 West River Drive in Comstock Park, Michigan 49321 on Saturday, October 4 to visit participating local businesses at the Health & Wellness Expo starting at 8:00am.

The 5K Run begins at 9:00am with the Health Expo continuing after the race.

This special race will benefit Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, making a difference in the lives of children & families.

While driving on Cordes Ave NW, just off 4 Mile Rd, I was amazed at how many apples are on the trees and looking so pretty. They look like they are ripe and ready to be picked.

This is a great time of year to take the family out to get your fall and winter supply of apples, especially if you have a cool place to store them. It's an opportunity to get out into the fresh country air, pick some apples and let the kids know just where those apples they eat come from.